Brialis

I received an email yesterday about starting local chapters. I would LOVE to start a chapter in Spokane WA. I had surgery just over 6 months ago and have lost 82 lbs... I have encouraged and supported several ladies as they've looked into and are now on the road to their own surgeries... I can't express enough how life changing this has been and how much I want to support and share this with anyone who is struggling with weight issues... I feel that to be a good leader you have to help empower those around you by helping them discover and utilize the tools necessary for their success... Being we all fall at times, it's important to know how to get back up and move forward and that needs to happen WITHOUT criticism and guilt placed by others... Having been overweight my entire adult life, I understand how it feels to be judged because of weight... I have a strong belief in weight loss surgery and a passion to help others... I want others to be able to write their own weight loss stories and together build a strong network of support... If you find me to be a good candidate for this opportunity, I would gladly accept...

I have been anxious to get this group going... I'd like to meet once a month in the Cheney Library... I'm open to doing it at a different restaurant each time or whatever works best... When is the best time for you both???

Alex, I would love to start a chapter in the Spokane WA area. I tried to submit a form through the contact us link and kept getting an error message. I don't know how to make contact otherwise a so here I am... Let me know what to do... Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you...

I think the most interesting part to me is my feelings toward what used to be my favorite foods... I'm 3 months post op now and have found so many changes in likes and dislikes... For instance... I love fish now and it used to be I didn't care for any of it other than shrimp!!! I'm constantły aware of which food choices to make and Im pretty good at making the right ones... I'm really thankful when I want an old favorite that may not be the best choice... that I can eat very little of it... Try not to worry too much about whether or not you'll be able to eat your favorites ever again... Focus on what you're doing now... It's too hard to predict how your body will manage different foods down the road... Pay attention to your body and what it's telling you... You'll be fine!!!

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You're worth it! Thanks! I had a tough time in the beginning and often wondered if I was going to regret it... However, as I healed, got my energy back and then started getting along better with food, my whole feeling changed. I feel good about my weight loss yet am still working on getting enough protein. You may not find it easy, but you will find its worth it...

I had surgery Nov. 22nd. I feel great! I'm down 48 lbs and loving it. It's great to hear everyone else is doing well too. I did hit a three week stall not too long after surgery and that was frustrating. However, I do understand the weight WILL come off. I find so much support on this website so this is where I come for learning and understanding. Good job everybody! I look forward to the updates!

I'm 2 months post op. Can I drink sparking flavored water? 0 calories, carbs, sugar, caffeine.

I was kind of wondering about the same thing. I'm 2 months post op and can eat a. 5.3 oz conatainer of chobani yogurt. Is that a bad thing?

Your surgery must be today... Good luck and hopefully you will recover quickly!!! It's exciting...

I think there has been opportunity given to help you understand someone else's perspective... LouiseC and her situation... She's speaking for herself and trying to help you... She knows her experience better than anyone and in that respect she would be right in what she says... I think you're feeling quite sensitive about the responses that you've gotten... I initially was taken back by the harshness of what you posted... HOWEVER... I take from everyone what is helpful and file away what doesn't apply... At least at this point... It helps when your looking for comments that are applicable to you or where you can help someone else... A wee bit of a head up... no matter how much prep you do before surgery... you are not nearly as prepared as you'd think for after surgery... I have personally experienced this and have been grateful to find a site with others who have shared their experiences... It certainly has benefited me... Please use it for the good in it... Assumptions and criticisms aren't helpful to anyone... I don't think...

Of course we aren't expected to agree or ride the same band wagon... There is a huge diversity in how each of us go about our post op experience and in the things we eat... I would guess most are very aware of how they became overweight and now it's... at least for me at this point... a constant awareness of food and what I need to do to make it all work the way I'm supposed to... That's coming with trial and error... For some that includes more eating out than others... I honestly don't think I've read any post for sleevers where they are unwilling to make the effort to their their relationship with food... We're all different and that's the beauty of things... We have the opportunity to learn from someone else because their experience is different...

I think the most important thing to remember is that it's all about choice... You can go to McDonald's or probably anywhere and make a healthy choice... You can make an unhealthy one at home just a well!!! I believe the original concern was whether or not one could ever eat at a restaurant again... Of course you can... Part of the choice is keeping in mind the hierarchy of foods... Protein... Veggies... Fruit... I've personally found it's not nearly as easy as it sounds to make the wrong choice as many foods don't settle well anymore... My doctor told me... and yes... I realize every doctor might say something different... That it's important not to rob yourself of things you really like... Such as... one morning at work they were serving biscuits and gravy... my favorite... However... I went for cottage cheese and fruit and ONE piece of sausage... My doctor thought that was a great compromise... I don't do it everyday... It's protein... but I ate extra fat as well... I don't do things perfectly but I'm working hard on it and the weight is coming off... I've appreciated coming here for the support and would hate to see another leave because of serious critism...

You will be able to do it!!! I'm excited for you... Good luck and know there is great support on this site... It seems there is always someone quick to reply with help... suggestions or advice....

I think it's great to be able to cook and enjoy your own food more than eating out... It's certainly much healthier and can be lots more flavorful, not to mention cheaper!!! My husband and I are great cooks, and yet I do look forward to eating out. I have noticed it's not the experience it used to be and its nice to have lots of good and decent options.

My nutritionist gave me a card to show I had weight loss surgery. Many restaurants allow me to order from the childrens menu, where without the card they would not. More often, my husband and I will simply order one meal and I will take what little id like. I always order water and so we have literally cut our bill in half. I've also ordered ala carte before as well. There are plenty of good and healthy options for us.

--- That's refreshing to know. Are you eating most solid foods at 6 weeks out? I hope I can get most of my Protein through food sources eventually cause protein supplements are a drag I know about tea and ice chips counting as liquids thankfully Good luck to you I'm at the soft food stage now and that's nice... I have 3 weeks to go before regular food... I'm not sure if you like yogurt but Chobani Greek yogurt had 18g of protein for a 6oz container... I love the cherry... The plain yogurt works great for smoothies... Which were life savers for me... You'll get there!!!

Sandisleeve... I'm now 6 weeks post op and was having the same problem you are... My dietician said these totals on Water and Protein were goals and I needed to work up to them... Herbal tea and sugar free Popsicles counted toward water totals as well and that was helpful... The protein helps with the healing process and the water helps to flush out the impurities and toxins... I've gotten the water part down pretty good and now I'm working on the protein part and that's coming along... I found the unflavored protein powder to be much more flexible in adding to more things... I certainly haven't mastered things yet and I make mistakes with all of it... It feels like and ongoing learning process and things don't always stay the same... I'm learning to be prepared for things to be different every day... Sometimes what works today won't work tomorrow and vise versa... I still get sleepy after I eat and things do t always feel good after I eat... I either fail to recognize I've eaten too much or too fast... I've also hit a stall for 3 weeks now but I'm trusting that too will change!!! Be patient with all of it... You will get there...

Dpb... Have you tried Flinstones gummy Vitamins??? Those taste pretty good and they seem to be mild on my stomach... My regular meds make me feel sick to my stomach no matter what I seem to do as I have to grind them up... I only have a month left to do that so I'm not going to complain... I'm glad you're doing well otherwise... I find almost as many differences in the way people have recovered as I do the things we have in common... I've found it so helpful here... I hope things continue to be positive for you...

Dpb... How are you feeling? Is everything postoperative going ok??? I'm 3 1/2 weeks post op now... Things are FINALLY getting better... It's been rough but now I can say it was worth it...

I am almost 3 weeks post op and this week I've encountered a new problem. Afternoon I eat, I get extremely tired. I can lay down and take a nap if I ewe rent at work. I'm taking my vitamins and doing most of what I'm supposed to... I don't understand why this is effecting me this way all of a sudden. Any ideas, helps?